How many records does the archive hold?

63,896 records about Christchurch, every one linked at the provider that keeps the original.

How far back does the archive reach?

1800, the oldest record on file.

Where do the records come from?

30 collections: council archives, Papers Past, DigitalNZ’s partners, cemetery registers, the heritage list itself. The shelf says what exists and where it lives.

Are these documents verified?

They are leads and citations, not evidence, a record says a document exists and where to read it. What a document actually says is only claimed once somebody has read it; those readings live on the place pages.

“Victoria Bridge”, the shelf

Every record the archive holds about Christchurch, the oldest first. The originals live at the provider each row links to.

1,071 records matching 93 of these 100 with their text read Papers Past · Canterbury Stories · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Te Papa Collections Online · National Publicity Studios black and white file prints · TAPUHI · Canterbury Museum · Auckland Museum Collections · New Zealand Gazette · Digital Public Library of America · V.C. Browne & Son NZ Aerial Photograph Collection · Christchurch City Libraries Flickr · Hocken Digital Collections · Museums Victoria · Air Force Museum of New Zealand Photograph Collection · Wellington City Council Archives · The New Zealand Heritage List/Rārangi Kōrero · New Zealand Electronic Text Collection · Christchurch City Libraries Heritage Images Collection · Lincoln University Living Heritage: Tikaka Tuku Iho · Flickr · Radio New Zealand · Alexander Turnbull Library Flickr · Auckland Art Gallery Toi o Tāmaki · Te Hikoi Museum · iNaturalist NZ — Mātaki Taiao · Manawatū Heritage · Canterbury Photography Museum · Akaroa Museum · Hawke's Bay Museum

the 1900s
4 Jul 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 04 July 1908) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
16 Jul 1908
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 16 July 1908) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
12 Aug 1908
CHRISTCHURCH WATER SUPPLY (Otago Daily Times 8-12-1908) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Aug 1908
Page 1 Advertisements Column 4 (Poverty Bay Herald, 19 August 1908) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 Sept 1908
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 05 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
12 Sept 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 12 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1908
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 26 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
26 Sept 1908
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 26 September 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Sept 1908
Page 10 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 28 September 1908) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Sept 1908
Page 10 Advertisements Column 5 (Evening Post, 29 September 1908) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Oct 1908
Page 13 Advertisements Column 1 (Evening Post, 17 October 1908) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
7 Nov 1908
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 07 November 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Nov 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 21 November 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1908
Page 7 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 28 November 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Nov 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 28 November 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Dec 1908
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 09 December 1908) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
26 Dec 1908
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 26 December 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Dec 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 29 December 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Dec 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 30 December 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
31 Dec 1908
Page 3 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 31 December 1908) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Jan 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 09 January 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Feb 1909
CRICKET., (Otago Witness, 03 February 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Feb 1909
TABLE TALK (Otago Witness, 10 February 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Mar 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 06 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 13 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Mar 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 27 March 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Apr 1909
Tenders for the Month. (Progress, 01 April 1909) Progress · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
5 May 1909
TABLE TALK (Otago Witness, 05 May 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
12 May 1909
TABLE TALK (Otago Witness, 12 May 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Jun 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 04 June 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jul 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 10 July 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Jul 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 24 July 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
4 Aug 1909
A STRANGE QUEST. (Otago Witness, 04 August 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Aug 1909
LOCAL & GENERAL. (Otago Witness, 11 August 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1909
Page 6 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 August 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 August 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Aug 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 4 (Star, 14 August 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
16 Aug 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 16 August 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Aug 1909
Page 10 Advertisements Column 4 (NZ Truth, 21 August 1909) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Aug 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 21 August 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
28 Aug 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 28 August 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1909
Page 5 Advertisements Column 5 (Star, 11 September 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
11 Sept 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 6 (Star, 11 September 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
14 Sept 1909
Page 3 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 14 September 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1909
LOCAL & GENERAL, (Otago Witness, 15 September 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
18 Sept 1909
Page 11 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 18 September 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 3 places
7 Oct 1909
NEW STREET NAMES. (Star, 07 October 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Oct 1909
PIONEER RECOLLECTIONS. (Mataura Ensign 10-9-1909) Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
20 Oct 1909
TABLE TALK (Otago Witness, 20 October 1909) Otago Witness · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Oct 1909
Page 12 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 30 October 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
6 Nov 1909
Page 9 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 06 November 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
17 Nov 1909
Page 2 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 17 November 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Dec 1909
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Star, 03 December 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1909
Page 9 Advertisements Column 2 (Star, 24 December 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1909
Page 7 Advertisements Column 1 (Star, 24 December 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
24 Dec 1909
Page 10 Advertisements Column 3 (Star, 24 December 1909) Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
the 1910s
1 Jan 1910
Colombo Street, Christchurch by Radcliffe, Frederick George, 1863-1923 · Photographs / He Whakaahua · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
1 Jan 1910
Victoria Street Bridge, Christchurch Photographs / He Whakaahua · Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries
1 Jan 1910
Postcard: River Avon, Victoria Bridge Canterbury Museum · Canterbury Museum
28 Jun 1910
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Wairarapa Daily Times, 28 June 1910) Wairarapa Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Sept 1910
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Feilding Star, 21 September 1910) Feilding Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1912
Victoria Bridge, Avon, Christchurch by Muir & Moodie · Photography · Te Papa Collections Online · Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
1 Feb 1912
The Avon in Victoria Square showing the Supreme Court building, Salvation Army Barracks, and Durham St. Methodist church. by Leslie Adkin · Photography · Te Papa Collections Online · Museum of New Zealand Te Papa Tongarewa
28 Jan 1913
TOWN EDITION. (Poverty Bay Herald, 28 January 1913) Poverty Bay Herald · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
9 Aug 1913
NEWS AND NOTES. (NZ Truth, 09 August 1913) NZ Truth · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Jan 1914
Women In Print. (Evening Post, 30 January 1914) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Feb 1914
LOCAL AND GENERAL. (Ashburton Guardian, 03 February 1914) Ashburton Guardian · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Sept 1914
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Evening Post, 01 September 1914) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 May 1915
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 15 May 1915) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
20 May 1915
THE 26th LIST (Evening Post, 20 May 1915) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
10 Jun 1915
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 10 June 1915) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Aug 1915
THE ROLL OF HONOUR (Otago Daily Times 21-8-1915) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Aug 1915
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 23 August 1915) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Aug 1915
ROLL OF HONOUR. (Evening Post, 27 August 1915) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
30 Aug 1915
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 30 August 1915) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
15 Sept 1915
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 15 September 1915) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
29 Jan 1916
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 29 January 1916) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 Oct 1916
ROLL OF HONOUR (Otago Daily Times 23-10-1916) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1917
Garden city of the Dominion. Leaves 25 to 26Christchurch, New Zealand: a pictorial souvenir of the Dominion's garden city Canterbury Stories · Christchurch City Libraries · about 1 place
13 Feb 1917
WELLINGTON RECRUITING DISTRICT (No. 5) (Evening Post, 13 February 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
21 Jun 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 21 June 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
22 Jun 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 22 June 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
25 Jun 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR (Otago Daily Times 25-6-1917) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
3 Sept 1917
15000 MEN CALLED UP (Evening Post, 03 September 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
4 Sept 1917
Military Service Ballot. (Wanganui Chronicle, 04 September 1917) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1917
Page 1 Advertisements Column 7 (Thames Star, 25 September 1917) Thames Star · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
2 Oct 1917
FIRST DIVISION (Evening Post, 02 October 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 2 places
2 Oct 1917
Called Up. (Wanganui Chronicle, 02 October 1917) Wanganui Chronicle · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
18 Oct 1917
THE ROLL OF HONOUR (Otago Daily Times 18-10-1917) Otago Daily Times · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
19 Oct 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 19 October 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
27 Oct 1917
NEWZEALAND CASUALTIES (Evening Post, 27 October 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
19 Dec 1917
ROLL OF HONOUR (Evening Post, 19 December 1917) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
13 Mar 1918
TOTAL OF 750 NAMES (Evening Post, 13 March 1918) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
8 May 1918
COMING HOME (Evening Post, 08 May 1918) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
23 May 1918
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Evening Post, 23 May 1918) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
1 Aug 1918
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Evening Post, 01 August 1918) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
11 Sept 1918
CASUALTY LIST. (Marlborough Express, 11 September 1918) Marlborough Express · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
25 Sept 1918
Page 5 Advertisements Column 3 (Evening Post, 25 September 1918) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read · about 1 place
16 Dec 1918
Page 10 Advertisements Column 4 (Evening Post, 16 December 1918) Evening Post · Papers Past · National Library of New Zealand · text read
1 Jan 1919
Armagh Street, Christchurch, 1919 Kura Heritage Collections Online · Auckland Libraries · about 1 place

Most of these originals are not republishable here, the link goes to the provider that keeps them. A search result is a lead, not evidence: what a document actually says is only claimed once somebody has read it, and those readings live on the place pages.

“Victoria Bridge”, the shelf

The shelf

Its patch